Baby-development device



Jan. 17, 1928. 1,656,637

W. F. HUDSON BABY DEVELOPMENT DEVI CE Orifznal Filed May 13, 1925 Patented Jan. 17, 192.8o

UNITED STATES PATENT'OFFICE..

WILLIAM I', HUDSON, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

BABY-DEVELOPMENT DEVICE.

Application filed May 13, 1925, Serial No. 29,866. Renewed May 6, 1927.

This invention, generally stated, relates to amusen'ient and exercising devices tor children oit' tender age'and relates more espe,- cially to the type ot device disclosed in my copending application for patent Serial No. 633,093, tiled April 19, 1923.

While the device disclosed in my said application is admirably adapted tor the purposes intended practice has dictated that at certain periods it is highly desirable to maintain the device in a state ot rest in con tradistinction to its normal tendency to roch.

lhereiore, the leading object ot the present `invention may he said `to reside vin the provision ot means forming part ot theliase ot the device which at desired times may be opened up to function as a stabilizing medium, particularly when a tray, also Yforming` part ot' the present invention. is attached to the seat oit the device. Other of generaldetails ot construction and in the yarrangjment and combination of parts tor attaining the result sought by the leading object. Still other objects not at this time appearing Will be referred to hereinafter.

The invention consists ot the novel constructions herein desixribed and finally clainfied. v

The nature, clmracteristie vii'eatnres und scope ot the invention will be more :fully iuulerstood 'from the following description taken in connection with the accon'ipanying drawings toi-mingpart hereot, and in which: y l f y Fig. 1, is a view et theunderside ot the base of the device and illustrating` the stabilizing medium in tolded position. y

Fig. 2,.is a view in section taken upon the line 22 ot Fig. 1, and illustrating the stabilizing mediums opened out to retain the device :in stationary position.`

Fig. 3, is a view in perspective ot one oit the stabilizing mediums detached; and

Fig. 4, is a view in perspectiveot` the tray coupling parts shown in Fig, 2, in detached relation.

F or the purpose otillustrating my invention I have shown in the accompanying drawings one 'form thereot' which is at present preferred by me, Isince the same has been found in practice to give satisfactory and reliable results, although it is to be Yunderstood that the various instrumentaliand a supported structure or chair each ot which are movable in unison and ot which the latter has independent movement With respect to the former. The supporting' structure or base is comprised oit a shell 10,

Ot howl-like contour, madefof galvanized,

blacleiron or other suitable sheet metal.

The curvature et the shell 10 is selected With av view to securing a universal, rocking movement and in order to preclude the possibility of undue tilting` the circumferential edge or rim ot the shell is flanged as at 11 in a horizontal manner'to act :is a stop. lnteriorly considered the shell l() presi-nits a spherical concavity and is .provided with :i plurality ot radially. disposed 'ribs 1 4; 'which 'function in two capacities, one ot which is to provide shell4 reintorcemcnt and the other ol which will be hereinafter referred to. Located vWithin and extended centrally thereof in a vertical manner is a tubular member' or socket 15 which may be spot Welded o-r riveted to the shell loottom. rlhe supported structure, which may be a chair 16, is arranged to be iitted to the socket 15 Within thevshell so as to' have movement in unison with the shell and at the same time be tree for independent rotary movement or in other Words the supported structure Ahas swiveled relation wit-hrespect to the shell. Adapted for removable attachment to the chair 16 is a tray 17, seeFig. 2, in order that at desired times a child occupying the device may be fed therefrom. Fixed to the tore- Ward end-ot each arm of the chair is a plate TCI 18. Carried by each plate is a socket 19 provided with a set-screw 20. Secured to the underside of the tray, one upon each side, are pins 21 shaped to removably engage the sockets 19 of the plates 18 and adapted to be secured in the position shown in Fig. 2, by means of the set-screws 20. Thus the tray 17 may be conveniently and quickly positioned at the chair front When it is desired, for instance to feed a child using the device. At such times it isl highly desirable to maintain the base or bowl of the device stationary as is readily apparent. ln order to secure such functioning of parts use is made of a plurality of stabilizing mediums, as pivoted legs 22 of Which there are three. rlhe legs are stamped 'from metal and are each pivoted at 23 to the vertical ears 24 of a horizontal plate 25. rlhe plates 25 may bo Welded or otherwise secured tothe underside face of the base or boivl of the device. ln practice good results are obtained by forming` upon the said under face arrecessed or depressed portion 26 for each pivotal leg. 'ihus as shown in Fig. 1, these legs may be caused to closely hug the under face of the base or bowl in inoperative position solas not to interfere with any rocking movement of the base. shown in Fig. 2, the legs in operative or stabilizing position are moved. out'- Wardly from said recessed parts so that the free ends thereof abut against the floor or ground to maintain the baie stationary. ln the connection it is to be @noted that the ears Q4 function to prevent undue outward movement ofthe legs, see Fig. 3. y

As an example the stabilizer instead of being attached directly to the under face of the base-of the device may be of any other desired construction. Thus a detached stabilizer frame may be provided to rest upon the floor or ground and support the base in stationary position irrespective ofv whether a. seat7 chair or other article is supported Within the bowl. Then, too, it may be desired to maintain the base sationary at times other than when a tray is being used upon the chair. As au example it may be desired to support within the bowl a deviceupon which a baby may recline at which ltime obviously the bowl should be maintained stationary.V Therefore, it is'apparent that stabilizing of a base for a device of the character `under discussion in its broadest aspect may be for varied purposes and may be of varied constructioirf It is therefore to be understood that l. have in mind construction other than three pivotal legs, as above described, although from a manufacturing viewpoint this isa most desirable construction. Obviously the tray above described may also bevattached to a chair or seat in varied Ways. Y

It will now be apparent that l have de- ?ised a novel and useful construction which embodies the features of advantage enumerated as desirable in the statement of the invention and the above description and While l have in the present instance shown and described tho preferred embodiment thereof Which has been found in practice to give satisfactory and reliable results, it is to be understood that the same is susceptible of modilication in various particulars without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

lliat l claim is:

1. A devicerof the character stated comprising a bowl-like shell having spherical inner and outer su 'faces to permit of a universal free rocking movement, a seatI arranged Within the shell for free rotary movemont and relatively short means Within and positiv-ely secured to the shell bottom for supporting said seat Vwhich seat is relatively small as compared to the shell and is so disposed with .respect to the shell that the feet of an occupant thereof are free to at all times engage the inner concaved Wall of said shell to accon'iplish rocking of the shell and rotation of the seat, and means attached -to the underside of said shell adapted to be opened out to provide a stabilizer for said device.

2. A device of the character stated comprising a bowl-like shell vhaving spherical inner and outer surfaces to permit of a universal free rocking movement, a seat arranged Within the shell for free rotary movement and relatively short means Within and positively secured to the shellbottom for supporting said seat Which seat is relatively small as compared to the shell and is so disposed with respect to the shell that the feetv of an o'ccupantthereof are free to at all A, device of the character stated compi ng a bowl-like shell having spherical inner and outer surfaces to permit of a universal free rocking moven'ient, a seat arranged Within the shell for free rotary movement and relatively short means Within and positively secured to the shell bottom for supportingsaid seat which seat is relatively small compared to the shell andis so disposed With respect to the shell that the feet of an occupant thereof are free -to at all times engage theinner concaved wall of said shell to accomplish rocking` of the shell and Vrotation of the seat, a plurality of recesses upon the underside of said shell7 and a leg pivotally arranged in each recess.

d. A device of the character stated comprising a bowl-like shell having spherical inner and outer surfaces to permit of a universal free yrocking movement, a seat arlll) ranged Within the shell :tor free rotary movement and relatively short means Within and positively secured to the shell bottom for supporting said seat which seat is relatively small as eompareclto the shell and isv so disposed With respect to the shell that the feet of an occupant thereof are free toat all times engage the inner concaved Wall of said shell to accomplish rockingl of the shell and rotation of the seat, a plurality of recesses V10 upon the underside of said shell, a leg pivotally arranged in each recess, and means for limiting pivotal movement of each leg.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

WILLIAM F. HUDSON. 

